Actor Park Hoon (43) underwent a striking transformation, including shaving his head and getting a scalp tattoo, to enhance his portrayal of a character in the action film Harbin (directed by Woo Min-ho and produced by Hive MediaCorp).
In an interview with Sports Chosun on the morning of the 26th, Park Hoon shared behind-the-scenes insights into his role as Tatsuo Mori, a Japanese military officer, in the 1909-set film. Harbin captures the intense pursuit and conflicts between individuals converging in Harbin for a singular purpose.
Park Hoon revealed that director Woo Min-ho initially suggested the shaved head to create a distinct image. Reflecting on the decision, Park Hoon shared:
“The film Harbin felt like a poem—complex and open to interpretation. I wanted my performance to resonate with that nuance. The shaved head was suggested to bring a unique visual element to my character, and I thought, why not take it further?
Recalling his debut days, Park Hoon decided to go beyond just shaving his head and opted for a scalp tattoo to redefine his forehead lines. He explained:
“This transformation was about shedding my old self to become Tatsuo Mori. When I showed my look to Director Woo in Latvia, he was thrilled. Watching the film now, I feel it added a layer of immersion for the audience. The choice aligned perfectly with the mise-en-scène.”
The actor recounted humorous yet intimidating experiences while filming in Latvia, where Asians were a rare sight.
“The shaved head and bulked-up physique made me stand out, and many locals were visibly intimidated. Even when I tried to smile to appear friendly, they said it only made me look scarier. To avoid alarming people, I often wore a hat. But when I took it off, people literally cleared a path for me!” Park Hoon joked.
The cast and crew found the situation amusing, with some jokingly speculating he might have hidden weapons up his sleeves.
Portraying a Japanese officer required Park Hoon to perform extensively in Japanese, a task he found daunting.
“Being Korean, I felt a lot of pressure to sound authentic. I worked closely with a Japanese instructor who explained my lines and character’s emotions in Korean before translating them back to Japanese. It was a meticulous and challenging process,” he noted.
Park Hoon humorously added that by the end of filming, the teacher’s Korean had improved more than his own Japanese. Despite the challenges, he expressed satisfaction with his performance, saying:
“I gave it my all, and I’m glad I acted without regret.”
Harbin features a stellar cast, including Hyun Bin, Park Jung-min, Cho Woo-jin, Jeon Yeo-bin, Yoo Jae-myung, and Lee Dong-wook. Park Hoon’s dedication to his character has added another layer of depth to the film, making it a project to watch out for.
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